Fishing guide
Fishing charters out of Murrells Inlet
The short answer
A Myrtle Beach fishing charter is a guided trip on a licensed captain’s boat, booked by the party rather than the seat. Trips depart from Murrells Inlet, fishing the creeks and flats inshore and the reefs and wrecks nearshore. Rods, reels, bait and tackle come with the boat.
What actually happens on a charter
You meet the boat at the dock. The captain has already watched the tides and the weather for your slot and has a plan, which changes during the day, because fish move.
Gear is aboard. Rods, reels, bait and tackle are part of the trip, so what you bring is sun protection, something to drink, and a cooler if you want to take fish home. Licences are the captain’s problem, not yours.
Then you fish. On a half day that means working a handful of spots properly rather than running all over the place. On a longer trip you have time to try somewhere, decide it is not happening, and go somewhere else.
Inshore, nearshore or offshore
These are three different days out, and people book the wrong one all the time.
Inshore stays in the creeks, flats, marshes and the inlet itself. Shallow water, short runs, calm. This is where redfish, flounder, speckled trout and black drum live. Best choice for a first timer, for children, and for anyone who would rather not be out of sight of land.
Nearshore goes out past the inlet to reefs, wrecks and live bottom. Bigger fish, more trolling and bottom fishing, a rougher ride. Spanish and king mackerel, cobia, black sea bass.
Offshore means a longer run beyond nearshore waters. Carolina Hook and Fly does not offer offshore trips; its charters fish inshore and nearshore.
Sea conditions decide more than anybody’s preference does. A captain who moves you inshore on a windy morning is not shortchanging you, he is the reason the trip is any good.
How long to book
| Trip | Hours | Roughly |
|---|---|---|
| Half day | 4 | One area, worked properly |
| Three quarter day | 6 | Room to move between spots as the bite changes |
Four hours allows time to fish inshore. For a nearshore trip, confirm the fishing area, conditions and available duration before booking. Booking a longer trip does not turn it into an offshore charter.
What you catch, and when
Season and water temperature decide this, not the booking form.
Redfish, flounder, speckled trout and black drum are the inshore staples. Spanish mackerel, king mackerel, cobia and black sea bass come from nearshore reefs and wrecks. Several shark species are around and they turn a quiet afternoon into something people talk about for years.
Nobody can promise a fish. A guide who does is telling you something about themselves.
How many people fit
Party size decides which boat, and it is worth saying before you book.
Confirm capacity for the smallest boat when booking. It is a shallow water skiff, which is the platform you want for technical fishing and for casting a fly line, and it is not the boat for six people. The other boat is a Pathfinder 2500 HPS. Confirm its capacity for your group when booking.
Confirm passenger capacity for the assigned boat before booking. If you are weighing this against a seat on a bigger boat, that trade is covered here.
Guided fly fishing
They do run fly trips, which is unusual around here and is half the reason the business is called what it is. Skinny water, sight casting, a skiff built for it.
Almost nobody searches for it, which is why it gets a paragraph here rather than a page of its own. If it is what you want, say so when you book, because it changes which boat goes out.
Where the boats leave from
3993 US-17 BUS, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576, on the Murrells Inlet Marsh Walk.
Murrells Inlet is about fifteen minutes south of Myrtle Beach proper. Most people staying in Myrtle Beach drive to the boat rather than the other way round, and the inlet is the reason: it opens onto the creek system inshore and gives a short run to nearshore structure.
Questions people ask before booking
Do I need a fishing licence?
No. The charter covers it. You turn up with sun cream.
What if the weather is bad?
The captain calls it, and he calls it on your behalf rather than on the boat’s. Wind matters more than rain for how the day feels, which is why a forecast that looks miserable from a hotel window is sometimes a fine morning on the water.
Can we keep what we catch?
Within the season and size rules for each species, yes. Bring a cooler. The crew will clean fish for you.
Is it suitable for children?
Inshore, very. Short runs, calm water, plenty happening, and a half day is about the right length for a child’s attention. Offshore is a long day in open water and is a different proposition.
How far in advance should we book?
Summer weekends and the good weather months go first. If your dates are fixed, book early; if they are flexible, ask what is open, because a midweek slot is often quieter fishing as well as easier to get.
What does a trip cost?
It depends on the trip length and the size of your party, so the honest answer is to check availability for your dates and ask. Call (843) 241-7706.
Still deciding which trip?
Tell us how long you have, how many are coming, and whether anyone has fished salt water before. We will say which trip fits and what the fishing is doing.
The rest of the set
- Deep sea fishing out of Myrtle BeachDeep sea fishing out of Myrtle Beach covers several very different trips. What is reachable from Murrells Inlet, what you catch, and how long you need.
- Party boat or private charterHead boats and private charters are two different days out of Myrtle Beach. What each costs you in people, flexibility and fishing time, and who each one suits.
- Fishing charters from Murrells InletFishing charters leaving from Murrells Inlet, fifteen minutes south of Myrtle Beach. Where the boats dock, what the inlet fishes like, and how to find it.
- What are the best fishing charters in Myrtle Beach?The best Myrtle Beach charter is the one built for your party and your day. What to check before you book, and how Carolina Hook and Fly answers each.
- Where can I book a half day inshore fishing trip near Myrtle Beach?Four hours inshore out of Murrells Inlet near Myrtle Beach: redfish, flounder and trout in the creeks, rods and bait included, group size confirmed when booking.
- Who runs fishing charters in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina?Two boats, three captains, out of Murrells Inlet, South Carolina. Carolina Hook and Fly runs inshore and nearshore trips, with the duration confirmed when booking.
- Who offers guided fly fishing near Myrtle Beach?Carolina Hook and Fly guides fly anglers on the flats behind Murrells Inlet from a skiff for small parties, sight casting to redfish and speckled trout.
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